Rail accidents, lost lives, and unknown reasons

Rail accidents, lost lives, and unknown reasons

Rescue work in progress after 12 coaches of the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express derailed near Chapra in Bihar yesterday. Photo: PTI

In the second consequential railway accident in less than a month, at least four passengers lost their lives and several were injured when a dozen bogies of the Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express derailed near Chapra in Bihar during the early hours yesterday.
Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar felt prima facie the Maoists were involved while Home Minister Rajnath Singh was circumspect but inclined towards a similar view.
``Even the Prime Minister agrees it is too early to blame the Naxals [Maoists]. Let us wait for further report on the incident,'' said Singh who also mentioned another derailment of a goods train about 60 km away from where Rajdhani Express derailed.
``There was a blast on the track, which could have caused the derailment,'' he added.
Of the 12 coaches that derailed, five went off the tracks immediately leading to casualties and another seven derailed later, said Kumar.
Railway Minister D V Sadanand Gowda announced ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakhs for the family of the dead, Rs. 1 lakhs for the grievously injured and Rs. 20,000 for those with simple injuries.

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